The Stage of Lactation Profile (SOLP) is
a good estimate of the shape of the lactation
curve for dairy herds. The SOLPs for herds
with various milk production levels are
somewhat similar. The rates of decline of all
SOLPs are about the same. Therefore, the
differences in production levels are about the
same in late stages of lactation and in early
lactation, regardless of production Rolling
Herd Average (RHA). In addition, higherproducing
herds have their highest level of
production in the second stage of lactation
(51 to 100 days in milk), whereas this occurs
in the first stage of lactation (<50 days in
milk) in lower-producing herds. Nutrition
and management programs have a large
impact on the early stages of lactation that
affects the total lactation milk yield.